Richard Carapaz has been forced out of the Vuelta less than 48 hours before the start due to injuries he sustained in a crash last weekend.
The Giro d’Italia winner this year, Carapaz crashed last Sunday at the Profronde van Etten-Leur criterium; a non UCI ranked event won by Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo Visma).
While Carapaz did not break any bones and has been
undergoing treatment since the fall, his Movistar team said his injuries were
too severe to allow him start the Vuelta.
His place in the race will now be taken by José Joaquín
Rojas. Carapaz’s absence takes out a big favourite for the title.
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“The Movistar team confirmed Thursday that Richard Carapaz will not take the start of the 74th Vuelta a España, which begins in Alicante on Saturday, despite being part of the lineup originally announced,” a team statement said.
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“The Ecuadorian rider suffers from a significant
contusion in his right shoulder, as well as several bruises, after a crash
sustained in the Profronde van Etten-Leur criterium in the Netherlands, last
Sunday.
“In spite of treatment received all over the week and the
lack of fractures, the injury’s evolution has advised for further precautions
to allow it healing completely, which rules out against his appearance in the
race.
“José Joaquín Rojas, initially designated as a reserve
for the Blues in the Vuelta and already in Alicante since Wednesday, will be
part of an eight-man roster which also includes Valverde, Quintana, Soler,
Erviti, Pedrero, Arcas and Oliveira.”
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